AUGUSTA, Ga. – Following the NCAA Division II President's Council reductions for the number of minimum and maximum games to be played this upcoming season, the Peach Belt Conference athletic directors council voted this week to commit to fulfilling conference schedules this year. All final decisions regarding the PBC's conference schedules will be made by the Board of Directors as part of the league's virtual annual meetings next week.
"We fully support the NCAA President's Council and their decision to reduce the amount of contests for 2020-21," said PBC Commissioner David Brunk. "What our athletic directors indicated with their vote is that we as a league are committed to playing our full slate of conference games in all team sports, with the freedom to make adjustments if they become necessary. With the constantly changing landscape regarding the return to academics and athletics given the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to say with certainty what exactly our regular seasons will look like this year, so our focus will be on our conference schedules when we do take the field once again."
NCAA Division II's highest governing body voted to reduce the minimum number of contests needed for sport sponsorship and championships selection by 33% as well as a one-year reduction to the maximum number of contests and dates of competition. These reductions varied by sport, based on results from a survey administered to presidents and chancellors, directors of athletics and conference commissioners.
"The safety and wellbeing of our student-athletes is our top priority," said Brunk. "To that end we have been working tirelessly to make sure our facilities are clean and sanitized, that we are following all CDC and state guidelines regarding social distancing and testing and examining the financial and legal ramifications for a return to play. We are setting up support systems now to ensure that our member institutions are fully prepared to welcome students and athletes back to campus in as safe an environment as possible."
The PBC annual meetings will be held virtually next week from May 26-27.
